Amazon & BT Sport secure final Premier League rights

Amazon will show 20 Premier League matches a season for three years from 2019, after winning one of the final two broadcast packages, with BT Sport securing the additional remaining games.

The online streaming service has won the rights to show one round of midweek games and one round from a bank holiday schedule, with the matches set to be available to Amazon Prime members in the UK at no additional cost.

It is the first time that packages of livestreaming matches have been offered by the Premier League, under a strategy introduced by the chief executive, Richard Scudamore.

Amazon already broadcasts the US Open tennis, ATP World Tour Tennis events and NFL games.

The other unsold package of 20 matches was bought by BT Sport, taking their total to 52 games for three years from the start of the 2019/20 season.

These games add to the 32 Saturday matches that BT Sport won earlier this year.

The 20 additional matches will cost £90m, bringing the total cost for 52 games to £975m over three years.

BREAKING:

MORE PL football than EVER before, viewing figures up across the board by over 20% this season, 6.5m watched the CL final that we made FREE for all, Tyson Fury about to arrive, MotoGP compelling, huge supporters of grassroots & women’s football. Good times. @btsportpic.twitter.com/XbHWVdYKY5

The new package will see BT Sport show - for the first time - multiple midweek Premier League matches on the same evening, something that BT Sport has achieved since taking over UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League nights.

BT Sport has also won the rights for the same 52 Premier League games in the Republic of Ireland.

According to a statement from the broadcaster, BT has “remained financially disciplined during this process and remains in a strong position to make a return on investment through subscription, wholesale, commercial and advertising revenues. BT will seek to take advantage of its integration with EE, which has more than doubled BT Sports’ reach.”

BT recently agreed a multi-year deal to offer Sky’s NOW TV service, which includes Sky Sports, from early 2019.

Andy Haworth, managing director for content and strategy for BT’s consumer division, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer our customers even more Premier League matches and to create exciting mid-week nights of top flight Premier League football action.

“The fantastic sport our customers can view continues to grow. Today’s Premier League announcement, and the recent deal with NOW TV, means BT TV customers will have access to all of the best exclusively live sporting action in the UK. We look forward to continuing as a partner of the Premier League and showcasing the most exciting league in the world.”

Premier League executive chairman, Richard Scudamore, added: “BT Sport is an excellent partner for the Premier League and has an established track record of showcasing the League and the clubs with innovative and engaging content. We are very pleased they will continue to broadcast the competition in the UK and Ireland.”

The Premier League remains in BT Sport’s portfolio of live sport, which also includes the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, the Emirates FA Cup, MotoGP, boxing, Premiership Rugby and European Rugby Champions Cup.